Odisha asks WLTI to prepare wild life management plan

The Odisha government today urged the Wild Life Trust of India (WLTI) to prepare a comprehensive Wildlife Management Plan for the state which boasts off different kinds of animals, birds and marine creatures.
"The Wild Life Trust of India has been requested to prepare the comprehensive plan within 15 months. They would hold wide ranging discussions with various stake holders at different levels," Secretary of Forest and Environment department S C Mohapatra said.
He said the technical experts and field level executives will be consulted before finalising the plan.
Inputs would also be collected from local sources, Mohapatra said, adding that each department would nominate one nodal officer to give necessary data and input to WLTI for modalising the plan.

Mohapatra said the state government was hopeful of getting the Comprehensive WL Management Plan ready within 10 months.
Chief Secretary A P Padhi, who presided over the meeting with officials of the WLTI, suggested that the comprehensive plan should be prepared by fostering a balance between forest and wild life conservation on one side and mining and development activities on the other.

Padhi also called for adopting appropriate technological solutions and innovative approach to resolve differences between wild life conservation and development interventions.
The meeting discussed about preparation of micro-level plans for 51 wild life and territorial divisions of Odisha.

The issues pertaining to diversity and conservation of mammalian, tigers, avian species, herpetofaunal species, fish, plants, aquatic life, marine resources, sacred groves and others were discussed in the meeting.
The topics like people's participation in conservation, awareness about nature, wildlife health, human and animal conflict management, eco-system restoration, habitat management and others also figured in the talks.
"Odisha now pioneers in working out the Comprehensive Wild Life Management Plan in the entire nation," M K Ranjitsinh, Emiritus Wild Life Trust of India (WLTI), said.
Dr Binod Chandra Choudhury, Advisor, WLTI cited the activities in which Odisha pioneered.
The state has the distinction of establishing tiger reserve, riverine sanctuary, RAMSAR site at Chilika and Marine Species Conservation of Olive Ridley turtles.